The truth behind the snake-shaped tower in Hanoi winning the global architecture award

Image of Dragon Tower building that just won the first prize for global architecture and design 2022 posted on ArchDaily

In recent days, the online community has been buzzing with information and images of the Dragon Tower project - the world's longest snake-shaped tower in Hanoi, which has just won the first prize for architectural design and global design 2022, in the mixed-use category.

According to the introduction, the tower project is designed according to the image above to become the longest building in the world, in which the 700,000m2 complex will provide ministerial corridors, meeting rooms and public spaces, including: kindergarten, library, supermarket, restaurant and learning center. In addition, a water reservoir and green terraces are included in the design to increase the efficiency and accessibility of the building.

The tower project is composed of two parts: The ground floor is an artificial terrain holding the office bar above to form a dragon shape. Inspired by Co Tien Mountain (Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa), one of the main natural highlights of Vietnam, the green terraces connect the additional uses with the main squares.

Notably, some news sites citing sources from ArchDaily predict that the tower will be an iconic landmark of Hanoi and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the design competition did not specify which international organization or agency was organizing it. Information about the project for the world’s longest building is also very “vague.”

Faced with the above shocking information and images, many people have expressed their indignation and concern if this tower designed in the shape of a "snake" is approved and implemented.

Architect Tran Huy Anh said that the design of the tower above has no legal significance. Because in terms of planning, the State has already proposed a specific plan. In terms of art, looking at the design that has been spread on the internet, "it's just terrifying, because the shape is like a ghost, it doesn't represent anything."

Architect Tran Huy Anh emphasized that the design of Dragon Tower looks like a ghost, has no legal validity, and is only for advertising.

Therefore, regarding global architectural art, according to Mr. Anh, it is necessary to see who and which organization organizes the award ceremony? Is the above design really worthy of their decision to award the first prize on a global scale? However, this information is currently very "vague."

“Because of such vague information, international design competitions - sometimes organized by unclear organizations - are only to collect money from contestants. In Vietnam, there are competitions where judges have not even graduated from architecture universities. There are even competitions organized like 'pedicine street vendors', with the sole purpose of advertising,” Mr. Anh worries.

Meanwhile, according to the Chairman of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, Tran Ngoc Chinh, the design of the building that just won the "rumored" international award was actually the design that participated in the competition for the overall planning and architectural ideas for the Headquarters of Central Ministries and Branches in the West Lake area last year, but did not win any awards.

Through the above reality, many architectural experts recommend that people should only believe in real projects that have been implemented and at the same time, they believe that it will be very difficult for the longest tower in the world in Hanoi to be designed in the shape of a snake to be implemented because: The image above does not carry the symbol of Hanoi and Vietnam.

According to Vietnam+